Discord: The Story of Noise

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Mike Goldsmith (Freelance science writer and Former Head of Acoustics, National Physical Laboratory)

Discord

The Story of Noise

Mike Goldsmith (Freelance science writer and Former Head of Acoustics, National Physical Laboratory)

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English

Oxford University Press
04 February 2014

Music; Popular science; Acoustic & sound engineering

Noise is a widely recognized problem and health concern in the modern world. Given the importance of managing noise levels and developing suitable 'soundscapes' in contexts such as industry, schools, or public spaces, this is an area of active research for acousticians. But noise, in the sense of dissonance, can also be used positively; composers have employed it from Baroque music to Rock feedback; medicine harnesses it to shatter kidney stones and treat cancer; and even the military uses it in (real and rumoured) weapons.

Mike Goldsmith looks back at the long history of the battle between people and noise - a battle that has changed our lives and moulded our societies. He investigates how increasing noise levels relate to human progress, from the clatter of wheels on cobbles to the sound of heavy machinery; he explains how our scientific understanding of sound and hearing has developed; and he looks at noise in nature, including the remarkable ways in which some animals, such as shrimps, use noise as a weapon or to catch prey. He concludes by turning to the future, discussing the noise sources which are likely to dominate it and the ways in which new science and new ideas may change the way our future will sound.

By: Mike Goldsmith (Freelance science writer and Former Head of Acoustics National Physical Laboratory)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 196mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 350g
ISBN: 9780199687794
ISBN 10: 019968779X
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 04 February 2014
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction 1: The Nature of Noise 2: A Silent Bang 3: Classical Noise 4: The End of Science 5: A New Science of Sound 6: Noise in the Eighteenth Century 7: Machineries of Noise 8: The First Champions of Silence 9: New Worlds 10: Noise in Wartime 11: A Time of Peace? 12: A Different Kind of War 13: A New Beginning? 14: The Power of Science 15: A New Pollution 16: Noise Now 17: A Quieter Tomorrow?

Mike Goldsmith, Freelance science writer and Former Head of Acoustics, National Physical Laboratory Mike Goldsmith has a PhD in astrophysics from Keele University, awarded for research into variable supergiant stars and cosmic dust formation. From 1987 until 2007 he worked in the Acoustics Group at the UK's National Physical Laboratory and was Head of the group for many years. His work there included research into automatic speech recognition, human speech patterns, environmental noise, and novel microphones. He continues to work with NPL on a freelance basis and has recently lead a three-year project to develop a new type of environmental noise mapping system. He has published over 40 scientific papers and technical reports, and since 1999, he has written over 30 science books for readers from babies to adults. Two of his books have been short-listed for the Aventis prize (now the Royal Society prize) for science books.

Reviews for Discord: The Story of Noise

The book is a veritable tour de force - an entertaining and highly informative tour through the weird and wonderful (and often wacky and worrisome) world of noise * Sean L'Estrange, Dublin Review of Books * This is an engaging book on a topic that concerns us all yet about which we remain strangely inarticulate - noise ... The book is a veritable tour de force - an entertaining and highly informative tour through the weird and wonderful (and often wacky and worrisome) world of noise. * Sean LEstrange, Dublin Review of Books *